Texas Thoroughbred Forum

Horsecrazy · Postby **Horsecrazy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:13 pm

The short answer to the question is that I have done nothing, nor has anybody else, to improve purses since we have been surrounded by states which fuel purses with additional gaming revenue, then use those purses to lure away most of our better horses. 85% of our purse structure is provided by simulcasting and our signals are no longer popular. Sadly, increasing race dates only further dilutes the purse structure and adds fuel to the already raging fire. The more race days you add under existing conditions, the quicker the entire industry will go totally broke. I do not know how to pass additional gaming. I do not know how to increase purses without it. Neither does anybody else, or those people would be building race tracks rather than hiding in the tall weeds, waiting to lob scud missels into the industry camps. I don't think ADWs can pass, but maybe you're smarter than me. Show me the votes. IRMs aren't that much different than slots, take the same patrons, probably just as easy to pass the whole enchilada. If you believe that BS about doing it with a one word change in the racing act, you live in a tree. The gambling opponents in the House will line up at the back mike, explain to their colleagues how you are trying to hoodwink the legislature and they will literally line up against you for trying to make fools out of them. Further, the lawsuites will take 5 years to settle and you will never survive long enough to see an IRM. That strategy was abandoned as a result of a lot of research years ago. OTBs are even more ridiculous. If you are a representative from a conservative district, what is your political cover for voting for a gambling shop in a strip center in Paradise, Texas? Especially when the opposition shows pics of the sleezy things in New York City? Just some pretty complex issues involved in ways to significantly increase purses. Saving an industry is a lot more complex than replacing the board of directors of a busted association.

tinners way · Postby **tinners way** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:02 pm

Good summary HC. As an industry I believe we have to take every option available and throw them against the wall. Have well reasoned arguments on the merits of each, all supported by the declines across the board. The big lie has been that "slots" has the only real chance. The reality is that while nothing has a chance, in that, everything has a chance.

Obviously no one has the votes for any initiative. My position is while no one wants to expand the footprint, and no one wants an OTB site in their backyard, and no one wants IRM-because it can be argued they are a heartbeat away from slots and the one word change I am sure you are right would bring lawsuits, and then you get to slots-which has every obstacle imaginable- and let's not even discuss the lawsuits and how old I would be when they were settled, the one that makes the most sense is to argue that the footprint of parimutuel wagering has already been expanded and there is no way that genie is going back in the bottle, and it actually fulfills the racing acts purported purpose of allowing every Texan access. You can control slots (sort of), and certainly IRM (easier than slots), and OTB.

What we all should be focused on is what is the one initiative that the actual horse race is fully responsible for, already exists, and does not publicly expand the footprint of gambling, etc. Oh, and the state can make money on. And if the state doesn't allow ADW, the feds will be getting their hands in the till before the state.

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:31 pm

I think it is sad that a few determine the outcome for the masses, but they do. The gambling foot print is just a stupid arguement used by those in power. If they really were concerned about gambling, they would bar Scottrade from the state. I've lost more picking stocks in the last two months than I have at the track or at the casino's or playing the lottery for my whole life. It is just as addicting.

Back to my post, we need to take what purse money we haved and look at how to best use it. Trusting the tracks does not make sense to me.

jrgators · Postby **jrgators** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 6:03 pm

Horsecrazy wrote: If you believe that BS about doing it with a one word change in the racing act, you live in a tree.

What does this line mean?

Thanks,
Theo

Horsecrazy · Postby **Horsecrazy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:18 pm

1) Show me the votes. There will be an even larger freshman class in the next session than there was in the last. Talk to every candidate, see where he REALLY stands on your issue. Then pick your candidates and try to get them elected. That means contribute money to their campaigns. Be sure you pick a winner, though, or some idiot will chastize you publicly for picking a loser! Then, count your votes - accurately, with knowledge, paid lobbiests, who will classify each member as a yes, leaning yes, undecided, leaning no or hell no. If you have 100 votes you have a real shot. Get it? If you haven't figured it out yet, it takes money, a lot of money. Good luckl If you live in a tree, that usually means you are very, very, very naive. Good luck, but again, the board of directors of busted associations are the very least of your problems.

Horsecrazy · Postby **Horsecrazy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:27 pm

By the way Rog, simulcast purse revenue is the property of the horsemen AT THE TRACK WHERE IT IS GENERATED. You cannot move that purse money without the consent of both the horsemen AND the track. The track markets that product, and has the right to use it for their own purses, to increase the quality of their show and enhance their business.

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:41 pm

Horsecrazy wrote:By the way Rog, simulcast purse revenue is the property of the horsemen AT THE TRACK WHERE IT IS GENERATED. You cannot move that purse money without the consent of both the horsemen AND the track. The track markets that product, and has the right to use it for their own purses, to increase the quality of their show and enhance their business.

This is not the issue, the issue is using that revenue to achieve some sort of balance that would benefit everyone. Cutting dates to an extreme only helps a few. What would re-shuffling the money say like 50% to allowance and stakes races and 50% to all the other races. If a track had $100,000 per day for purses and if they wrote 2 races for allowance horses each day, they would run for $25,000 per race and the other 7 races would average $7,142 per race. A plan like this would keep some of the better horses here and it would provide others a chance to stay in the business. Retama is not far from this generalization.

Horsecrazy · Postby **Horsecrazy** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:52 pm

BS, you wanna be a racing secretary, fill out an application.

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:01 pm

Horsecrazy wrote:BS, you wanna be a racing secretary, fill out an application.

We have an organization, that should be looking at how the races are written. Racing secretaries are paid to look at whats best for the track, the horsemen need a voice since the money really is theirs. Whats best for the tracks is not necessarily whats best for the Texas racing industry, but I doubt that you can see that.

Are you really running for the TTA Board????????

Horsecrazy · Postby **Horsecrazy** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:33 am

OMG! Nope.

jrgators · Postby **jrgators** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:08 pm

Horsecrazy wrote:1) Show me the votes. There will be an even larger freshman class in the next session than there was in the last. Talk to every candidate, see where he REALLY stands on your issue. Then pick your candidates and try to get them elected. That means contribute money to their campaigns. Be sure you pick a winner, though, or some idiot will chastize you publicly for picking a loser! Then, count your votes - accurately, with knowledge, paid lobbiests, who will classify each member as a yes, leaning yes, undecided, leaning no or hell no. If you have 100 votes you have a real shot. Get it? If you haven't figured it out yet, it takes money, a lot of money. Good luckl If you live in a tree, that usually means you are very, very, very naive. Good luck, but again, the board of directors of busted associations are the very least of your problems.

How many votes is their currently for vlt's??

Would that naive creature that hangs out in a tree is that literally or figurative naive?

What is the amount of money it takes? Apparently the non ADW side hasn't done any better, because that's gone nowhere as well.

I agree it takes money, but more than that it takes commitment, and direction.

Whomever you are, you insight is appreciated, and I'd love an answer...how much money? how many votes currently for vlt's? How much more red will be seen in the Texas legislature next time around? How much further will the Texas breeders program fall? How many more years before there are not anymore Texas bred horses?

Roger, do you really think the racing secretary doesn't care about the horsemen?

Horsecrazy · Postby **Horsecrazy** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:51 pm

I believe about 80 at the end of last session, but can't swear to it. Yes, that's at least 20% short. Who knows now or for the next session. Probably gets redder, although the teachers should jump up and declare war. Education got the shaft and I hope people will remember. How much money is anybody's guess. $3M or so didn't get it done last time around. Not a game for the faint of heart, that's for sure. There will still be some Texas breds after the industry crashes. Heck, they were here before we got racing, some good ones, too. They raced all over the country. LaD, FG and OP were pretty easy to get to and had really good purses. Seems to me that's the direction we're going again. Sad, and not far away. This is a very disfunctional industry.

jrgators · Postby **jrgators** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:54 pm

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS, AND SHARING IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY!

THEO

jrgators · Postby **jrgators** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:25 pm

I know we generally only talk about Texas stuff, but what happened to the claiming crown races! Those entries were almost zero, and one race was even cancelled!

Bedouwia · Postby **Bedouwia** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:45 am

I am not sure about the answer to your question Theo, but we are all paying more attention to racing outside of Texas, since we don't have any...

Yesterday I watched the racing in Trinidad on TVG. Maybe our attendance would improve, along with TV coverage if we had those mostly naked ladies and guys on stilts?